Sport

Bridgwater edged out in national final

AN excellent performance throughout the day just wasn't enough to see Bridgwater over the line at the ECB National Indoor Finals day at Lords.In their Semi Final, Bridgwater beat the powerful pre-tournament favourites Broadstairs CC from Kent, scoring 147-5 after being inserted.

Andy Hallaran (42) Josh Vickery (27no) and Ian Higgins (21) were the main scorers, before a solid bowling and fielding display saw their opponents bowled out for 128 and a 19-run win.

In the National Final, between the two teams left from the 856 who had entered the competition, high-scoring South Yorkshire side Dearne CC chose to bat, but a terrific bowling and fielding display from Bridgwater, restricted their opposition to 120-5 - with outstanding efforts from Chris Skidmore (1-19) and Higgins (1-21).

Unfortunately for Bridgwater, catastrophe struck in the first over as the inform Hallaran was stumped off a leg side wide for no score.

Stuart Butt (32) and Vickery cautiously rebuilt the innings aided by Ed Habberfield, against the lively and very accurate Dearne attack - but with 40 required off the last three overs, something special was required.

This was provided by Skidmore as he smashed his way to 27 before having to retire, to the delight of the Dearne team.

Despite three runs a ball from Higgins (16no) and the returning Butt, this caused the innings to lose momentum as requiring 18 to win off the last over the pair could only muster 12 in the face of the excellent Graham Batty, leaving Dearne five-run winners in what had been a tense but exciting Final between two outstanding teams.

## Thanks to 7th man Mitch Windsor and Scorer Mike Moran for their efforts on the day.